Switch mechanism for direction signals



Jan. 2, 1940. A. MAZER SWITCH MECHANISM FOR DIRECTION SIGNALS Filed Aug; 15, 1938 AZfred/Mizzer Patented Jan. 2, 1940 OFFifIE SWITCH IVIECHANISM FOR DERECTION SIGNALS Alfred Mazer, Newark, Ohio Application August 15,

Claims.

This invention relates generally to motor vehicle direction signal systems and is particularly directed to a switch used in the circuit of an electrically actuated direction signal mechanism.

5 In the direction signals heretofore proposed, the switches used were complicated and required the services of skilled workmen to effect the installation thereof.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a switch which is simple in construction and can be conveniently and quickly installed by relatively unskilled workmen.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a switch having a base formed of insulating ma terial, which may be mounted directly in connection with the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, there being a plurality of spaced contacts on the base adapted to be engaged by a contact movably carried by a lever, to control the closing of the various circuits supplying current .to the lamps of the signal system.

An object of the invention also resides in providing a switch with spaced contacts having convex surfaces which may be engaged by a concave surface of a movable contact, the formation of the interfitting contacts together with the resiliency of a spring used in mounting the supporting member for the movable contact serving to hold the switch in each of its positions of adjustment.

Additional objects will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention which have been illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a wiring diagram of a motor vehicle direction signal system provided with a switch formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is. a front elevational view of the switch shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a star-shaped spring used in the switch shown in Fig. 2;

Figv 6 is a vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the switch comprising the invention in its entirety. As shown in Fig. 1, the switch i is positioned in a motor vehicle direction signaling system to control the various, circuits employed therein. This system, illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, includes front 193%, Serial No. 224,941 ((11. Mill-11) and rear sets of lamps 2 and 3 used to indicate the direction the vehicle is to take and a second set of rear lamps d employed to signify when a stop is to be made. It is obvious that the rear set of lamps ,3 might be of thewell known double filament type in which case the second set of lamps i would be eliminated. The front and rear direction indicating lamps at each side are connected together by means of wires 6 and l and All of the lamps have 1 When the contact I6 is positioned in engagement with the contact lfl, the lamps 2 and 3 on the left side of the vehicle will be illuminated to signify that a turn to the left is intended. If the contact is moved to a position to engage the con tact M, the lamps at the right side will be illuminated to signify a turn toward the right. When the movable contact is positioned in engagement with the center contact only the lamps d at the rear will be energized. Ihese lamps, of course, serve as a warning of the drivers intention to stop and are used in conjunction with the conventional brake pedal actuated stop signals, thus providing a double stop signal. The last-mentioned signals are only actuated during the operation of stopping the vehicle while the former may be operated when the driver decides thathe wishes to stop and may remain in continuous operation as long as the driver desires. An instance of continuous operation would be when the vehicle is parked after dark.

The switch 5, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4-, includes a fan-shaped base ll formed of hard rubber or some other suitable dielectric material. Screws I8 pass through openings in the body and serve to rigidly secure it to the front surface of the vehicle instrument panel it. The narrow portion of the base has a circular opening formed therein which registers with an opening drilled in he instrument panel during the operation of installing the switch. Rotatably positioned in these registering openings is the hollow shank of a lever 22 which is also constructed of a dielectric material. Awasher and transversely extending pin 2% are carried by the inner end of the shank 2! to hold the ends of a bowed, star-shaped spring 25 in engagement with the rear surface of the instrument panel. The shank 20 extends through an opening in the spring and the latter by being confined between the instrument panel and the washer, serves to resiliently hold the lever in connection with the base.

At the widest portion, the base is provided with a group of spaced metallic members which constitute the stationary contacts H], H and I3, above mentioned. These contacts are disposed on an are having its center coinciding with that of the opening in which the lever shank is positioned. The outer or exposed ends of the contacts I0, II and I3 are made convex as are the heads of button-like members N secured to the switch base between each of the contacts h] and II and the contact l3. Convex outer surfaces have been provided on the contacts and button members for cooperation with a concave surface formed on the end of a metallic member constituting the movable contact 16 of the switch. This member is secured to the lever 22 by a screw 26 and is moved to positions of contact engagement and disengagement by the movement of the lever. To facilitate the operation of the lever, the outer end thereof is formed with an operating knob 2'! which may be conveniently grasped when it is desired to actuate the switch.

By reason of the interfitting concave and convex surfaces on the contacts and neutral buttons, the movable member of the switch will be held in its positions of adjustment. The resiliency of the arms of the spring 25 also assist in maintaining the lever in adjusted positions. The inner ends of the neutral buttons do not penetrate through the base since these members are provided merely to hold the contact carrying levers in neutral positions.

The wires 8, 9 and l2 are suitably connected as by soldering, to the rear ends of the contacts Hi, H and I3, respectively, and pass through holes provided therefor in the instrument panel. Ringlike insulators 28 may be provided to protect these wires from the metallic instrument panel. It is obvious from the showing that these insulators could be formed integral with the base if so desired.

A channel 29 is formed in the underside of the lever and connects at one end with the axial opening in the shank 20. The wire leading from the battery extends through the hollow shank and the lever channel and has the end thereof soldered or otherwise connected to the lever contact l6. When this contact is positioned in engagement with any one of the stationary base contacts, current will flow from the battery through the wire l5 and contact IE to the stationary contact. It will then flow through the wire leading therefrom to one or more of the signal lamps.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the switch base I! is spaced from the dash by the flange of an insulating bushing 3| position-ed in the opening in the instrument panel. In this form of the invention, the lever 22a is provided with a reduced threaded shank 2| which is disposed in a similarly threaded opening formed in a metallic rod 25m. The rod 20:: forms the pivotal support for the lever in this modification, the end of the Wire lea-ding from the battery being connected to the inner end thereof. A dielectric washer positioned between the ends of the star-shaped spring and the instrument panel prevents the escape of current at this location.

All forms of the switch have pins 31 secured to the base at the sides of the lever to limit the swinging movement thereof.

Having thus illustrated and described the invention in two of the many forms which it may assume, what I believe to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch for use in a motor vehicle direction signal circuit comprising a dielectric base formed for attachment to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle and provided with an opening therein, a plurality of contacts having convex outer surfaces secured to said base in spaced relation on an are having its center in the center of the opening in said a convex surfaced button secured to said base between adjacent contacts, a dielectric lever having a hollow cylindrical shank rotatably positioned in the opening in said base, said lever being provided with a longitudinally extending groove in the rear surface thereof, a star-shaped spring engaging the inner portion of said shank and the rear surface of the instrument panel of the vehicle to hold said lever in connection with said base, a contact secured to said lever at a point in registration with the contacts on said base, said lever contact being formed with a concave surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the convex surfaces of the buttons and the contacts on said base, a wire connected with said I lever contact, said wire extending through the groove and hollow shank of said lever, means formed on said base to limit the degree of rotation of said lever, and an operating knobv formed with the free end end of said lever.

2. A switch for use in a motor vehicle direction signal circuit comprising a dielectric base formed for attachment to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle and provided with an opening therein, a plurality of contacts having convex outer surfaces secured to said base in spaced relation on an are having its center in the center of the opening in said base, a dielectric lever having a hollow cylindrical shank rotatably positioned in the opening in said base, said lever being provided with a longitudinally extending groove in the rear surface thereof, a star-shaped spring engaging the inner portion of said shank and the rear surface of the instrument panel of the vehicle to hold said lever in connection with said base, a contact secured to said lever at a point in registration with the contacts on said base, said lever contact being formed with a concave surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the convex surfaces of the contacts on said base, a wire connected with said lever contact, said wire extending through the groove and hollow shank of said lever, means formed on said base to limit the degree of rotation of said lever, and an operating knob formed with the free end of said lever.

3. A switch for use in a motor vehicle direction signal circuit comprising a dielectric base formed for attachment to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle and provided with an opening therein, a plurality of contacts having convex outer surfaces secured to said base in spaced relation on an are having its center in the center of the opening in base, a convex surfaced button secured to said base between adjacent contacts, a lever having a cylindrical shank rotatably positioned in the opening in said base, said lever being provided with a longitudinally extending groove in the rear surface thereof, a starmhaped spring engaging the inner portion of said shank and the rear surface of the instrument panel of the vehicle to hold said lever in connection with said base, a contact secured to said lever at a point in registration with the contacts on said base, said lever contact being formed with a concave surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the convex surfaces of the buttons and the contacts on said base, current conducting means extending from the lever contact through the groove to the shank of said lever, and an operating knob formed with the free end of said lever. t

4. A direction signal circuit switch comprising a dielectric base having an opening therein, means for securing said base to a support with the opening in said base in registration with an opening in the support, a dielectric bushing disposed in the opening in the support, a cylindrical metallic shank rotatably received by the openings in said base and bushing, a plurality of spaced contacts carried by said base on an arc struck from the axis of rotation of said shank, a dielectric arm secured for movement with said shank, said arm having a groove formed in its rear surface, a contact carried by said arm for engagement with the base contacts upon movement of said arm, current conducting means extending from the lever supported contact through the groove in said lever to said shank, and means for resiliently maintaining the shank in position in said base and bushing.

5. A direction signal circuit switch comprising a dielectric base having an opening therein, means for securing said base to a support with the opening in said base in registration with an opening in the support, a dielectric bushing disposed in the opening in the'support, a dielectric washer surrounding said bushing at the rear of said support, a cylindrical metallic shank ro tatably received by the openings in said bore and bushing, a plurality of spaced contacts carried by said base on an arc struck from the axis of rotation of said shank, a dielectric arm secured for movement with said shank, said arm having agroove formed in its rear surface, a contact carried by said arm for engagement with the base contacts upon movement of said arm, current conducting means extending from the lever sup ported contact through the groove in said lever to said shank, and star-shaped spring means carried by the rear end of said shank to hold it in position in said bushing, the ends of the arms of said spring means engaging the dielectric Washer surrounding said bushing.

ALFRED MAZER. 

